Zak Crawley Cricket Career Explained

Zak Crawley is England's tall right-handed Test opener — a batsman whose elegant, upright technique and clean striking make him capable of scoring anywhere on the ground. Born on 3 February 1998 in Bromley, Kent, he shot to prominence with one of the great England innings at The Oval in 2020 and remains a key part of England's Bazball batting setup.

267 vs Pakistan — The Oval 2020

Crawley's defining innings came against Pakistan at The Oval in August 2020 when he scored 267 — one of the highest scores by an England batter in the history of Test cricket. The innings showed his ability to play long innings and his technique against both pace and spin at the highest level.

Batting Style

Crawley is tall and plays with an upright technique that suits English conditions. He drives elegantly through the off side, plays the pull shot off the back foot, and has the reach to get forward against spin. His high-backlift and clean hitting allow him to score quickly when the ball is in his areas.

Bazball Opening Partner

Under England's Bazball regime, Crawley has been encouraged to play his natural game — attacking from the first ball. The results have been mixed: when it clicks he scores big hundreds rapidly, but his average can dip during lean periods. His highs, however, remain extraordinary.